8:46 P.M.
Wednesday 16 May
Odaiba High - Gymnasium
June
"You've got to be kidding me!" I threw my head back and laughed, as Izzy Izumi, my latest acquaintance and so far the only person to talk to me at the Youth Day Dance, looked on with an amused smirk on his face. "I honestly don't know any guy that reads Shakespeare when he doesn't have to, and not to impress a girl. I just don't believe you're a Shakespeare fan."
Izzy shrugged, and replied, "Believe it or not, that's who I am. I really did start reading it to impress girls..." He blushed a deep red that matched the fiery color of his hair, and I smiled. I liked it when guys got embarrassed, especially this one. "...but I started liking it myself. Now I'm just in love with the words of the Bard."
I looked at him askance. It was time to test out just how much he knew about Shakespeare. "If I profane with my unworthiest hand, this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this; my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand..."
"...To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss." Izzy finished, without missing a beat. A warm grin spread across his lips. "Romeo & Juliet, Act two, scene one. Anyone who doesn't know that can't possibly say they like Shakespeare." I nodded with a smile; I didn't think that he was telling the truth. Obviously, I had gotten this boy all wrong. "I'm just surprised you didn't quote from the balcony scene."
I gave Izzy a seductive smile, and, reaching forward, I brushed the tips of my fingers against the heavy cotton of his suit jacket. "The night is still young, ne, Izzy?" I asked, and chuckled inwardly as I saw him gulp with nervousness. "There are a lot of things I might do before Youth Day is over."
I had been talking with Izzy for almost an hour now, and I was surprised at how fun and interesting the conversation had been. Almost without skipping a beat, we chatted about nearly anything and everything that came to mind: the loud, neo-J-Rock music Matt and his band were playing (geez, I can't believe I once liked that kind of music!), the decorations of the dance (supplied by the dance committee, chaired by yours truly), and even that mystery meat in the cafeteria that they serve on Thursdays. It felt so good to just talk to a guy and not have to worry about what he thinks of me, or if he's interested in what I have to say. It's such a fresh difference from Roger Ohtori...Izzy actually cares about what I have to say. And since it looks like I've been stood up by whoever Sora tried to hook me up with, there's nothing stopping me from talking to him all night.
Unless it's not the talking I'm interested in.
"Well, you might like Shakespeare," I changed the subject, seeing how nervous the topic of conversation was getting for Izzy - or, more accurately, how I was blatantly flirting with him - and put on a warm, inviting smile. "but I just can't understand how you like classical music. I mean, bore-fest!" I yawned to prove my point. "What normal sixteen year old boy listens to Mozart, and stuff like that? I should get you to listen to some American pop music. You know...LFO? Michelle Branch? Ever heard of them?" I frowned as Izzy shook his head no. "You'll get hooked the minute you hear them, I swear."
Izzy gave me a sly smile. "So, if you want me to listen to this music of yours," he said, taking a step closer to me and filling the space between our bodies, "does that mean you want to see me again?" I giggled and felt my own cheeks blush bright red as he carefully wrapped an arm around my tulle-fitted waist and looked me in the eyes. Having Izzy so close to me, his dark, mysterious eyes looking straight into my soul, I felt something that wasn't there before. It was a sensation that I don't think I've ever felt before; a least, not like this. It was electricity. There was definitely some sort of electricity between us, even though besides Shakespeare, Izzy and me had absolutely nothing in common. We didn't like the same music, the same style, and with extracurricular activities, we were complete opposites. I mean, tennis team members and computer club presidents just don't mix. But then, why were tingles running down my spine when he touched me like this?
"Besides," he continued. "I really enjoy listening to classical music. There's nothing like a sonata by Bach on a cold night, or an energetic overture by Beethoven. I think that, if you listened to my music, you'd get hooked."
I giggled. "Does that mean you want to see me again, too?" I asked seductively. Izzy, who, it seemed, had long gotten over being embarrassed with my flirting (since he was doing so much of it himself), pulled me in even closer to him, and flashed a toothy grin. "Classical music might be good for helping to fall asleep," I said coyly, eliciting a roll of the eyes from Izzy, "but there's one thing I know about it, and it's that you can't dance to it." Izzy gave me a pointed look. "Who says you can't dance to it?" "Me." He laughed, and retorted, 'You just don't know what real dancing is. It's not a big flailing of limbs or jerking around your body mechanically. It's -" "Hey," I cut him off mid-sentence, as I heard the Teenage Wolves begin to play a very uncharacteristic slow song. There was a heavy piano solo starting up, and it hardly sounded like Matt's guitar was playing at all. Giving Izzy a smile that nearly gave away that I had something wicked up my sleeve, I said, "So you say you can dance to this boring, ho-hum slow music?" Izzy nodded. "I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true," he replied. "Well then," I said mischievously. Taking his arm around my waist and holding his hand in my own, I began to lead Izzy away from the security of the refreshments table and nearly had to drag him towards the dance floor, already packed with young couples dancing close to each other. "Now you're gonna have to prove it!"
8:47 P.M.
Wednesday 16 May
Odaiba High - Gymnasium
Yolei
I stood in the middle of the gym floor, swaying my body back and forth to a fast-paced song in a useless attempt to look like I knew how to dance. I couldn't believe I was actually dancing with Davis. Isn't this just the kind of thing I was trying to guard against tonight? On Tuesday I was repulsed by the thought of even being seen with the wannabe-jock, let alone dance with him. But now that I'm here, on the dance floor, watching him make an absolute fool of himself, I can't see why I was so against this yesterday. I mean, would I ever pass up the chance to see Davis act like an ass? And besides, he wasn't that bad of a dancer. He hasn't done anything stupid, like stepping on my toes or anything.
Crunch.
Ouch. I stand corrected.
Davis wrinkled his brow in repentance. "Sorry," he said over the music. "I'm not that good of a dancer."
"You're better than me," I reassured him, accidentally stumbling into someone on my left to prove it. I couldn't help smile when Davis's lips broke out into a grin. This wasn't that bad. I mean, it wasn't terrible. There were definitely worse things I could be doing, like waxing nostalgia with my sisters at home or feeling sorry for myself at the dance, alone. Maybe I was wrong about going with Davis being a total waste of time. Davis or not, I was having fun.
Just then, the fast-paced sing came to an end, and a slow, soft-sounding tune floated through the air. Students stopped their carefree dancing and paired together into couples around us on the dance floor.
Okay, fun time's over. Time to panic.
Davis and I stood awkwardly in the middle of the floor, unsure of what to do. I mean, slow dance? With Davis? Sure, I was having fun dancing with before, but that was different. There wasn't any pressure; we could act like idiots and get away with it, and there definitely wasn't and touching involved with the dancing we were doing before. I didn't want to stop, though; as incredible as it sounds, I was having fun with Davis, and I truthfully didn't want it to end so soon.
I looked around at the happy couples dancing all around us. "Oh," was all I could muster, my face forming a disappointed frown.
Davis gave me a sympathetic look, and shoved his hands self-consciously into his pockets. Hmmm, that's strange; I don't think I've ever seen him self-conscious before, except when he's around Kari. "Um, you know," he said. "We don't have to do this...if you don't want to. We could just..."
"No!" I blurted out; perhaps a bit too enthusiastically. I smiled warmly, taking a step towards him, closing the already small gap between us. "It's okay," I said, softer this time. Nervously, I took the initiative, and placed my hands on his shoulders awkwardly. I had never really had a slow dance with a guy before...except for my geekazoid of a brother at weddings...but that doesn't count. Not like this.
Davis responded with a long, shaky breath, and with his arms wrapping around my waist. It felt like his hands were trembling. He pulled me closer, making any space between us disappear. I felt like I was holding my breath the entire time. There were butterflies sprouting in my stomach, and I could swear, if I hadn't passed on the punch earlier, I'd be throwing up right now.
And so the dance began.
We stood there, swaying slightly to the music, barely moving. My eyes were glued to Davis's face, half out of fear, half out of interest. I wasn't hating this. Why wasn't I hating this? I knew I was a bit boy-crazed - I was told about it enough times of the day by Davis - but I had always fallen for guys of the...well, cerebral type, like Izzy and Ken. I never fell for guys like...well, guys like Davis: conceited, obnoxious, annoying. Davis was the poster child for guys like that. So why wasn't I hating being with him?
Wait; did I just say I was falling for him?
"You're pretty quiet," Davis interrupted my thoughts, his hands still trembling at my sides. "That's not like you."
He was right. It wasn't like me not to voice my thoughts; but then again, I wasn't going to tell Davis about how I might possibly have the inclination to start liking him. "I was just thinking," I said instead, loosening up a little when I saw the fear in his eyes as well. Good. I wasn't the only one. "that this isn't terrible."
Davis chuckled. "Well, Matt's band can be pretty bad at times."
Trying not to roll my eyes at the sheer density of Davis's brain, I responded, "No, baka," I meant in the sincerest possible way. "I mean dancing with you. It's not terrible. Actually..." I smiled, and blushed. "...it's kinda nice."
Davis returned the smile, and pulled me closer to him, his hands not shaking as much anymore. A day ago - heck, maybe even an hour ago - I would have slapped his face and pushed myself away, but tonight, I...I think I liked it. "I'm glad," he said, a goofy, dream-like grin spreading across his face, a grin I had never seen before from Davis. "I thought going to the dance together would be the worst mistake we could ever make."
"So did I," I said truthfully while shamelessly losing myself in Davis's persistent gaze. "But I guess I misjudged you. You've really matured over the years." I smiled slyly. "You're no longer as annoying as you look, Davis Motomiya."
Just then, the slow, rhythmic stopped - quite suddenly, I might add - and there was a hushed murmur throughout the crowd about the absence of tunes. I wasn't paying attention to any of it, though, because it was at that moment that Davis decided to kiss me. He leaned in, pulling me so close to him that our foreheads were nearly touching. I watched his eyes flutter and close, as his lead with his lips, which came closer, and closer, to mine...
What the hell was I doing???
This was Davis. Davis, the guy I couldn't stand for three straight years. Davis, the one who nearly made me throw up when he asked me to the Youth Day Dance. Davis, the guy who wears a pair of beat-up, old goggles and still blames his smell on Demiveemon.
But then again, there's Davis: Davis, the guy who actually did ask me to the dance, and didn't have to format his hard drive tonight. Davis, the one who didn't pull away when I demanded the corsage, the suit, and all the conditions to go with him to the dance. Davis, the guy I didn't have to chase after to get him to notice me; he was the one who went after me.
Maybe falling for Davis isn't so bad after all.
Pulling my arms closer around Davis's neck, I braced myself for his kiss. But just then, as I glanced past Davis's shoulder momentarily, I saw something that I'd never thought I'd see at the Youth Day Dance.
It was Izzy.
He was on the dance floor.
Kissing another girl.
I gasped, my heart instantly dropping and shattering on the floor. Didn't he say he couldn't go to the dance with me tonight? Didn't he say he had something important to do instead? Didn't he...
Did he just lie to me?
"Oh my God," I whispered, barely audibly, the welling tears in my eyes threatening to erupt. How could he do this? I thought Izzy was a nice guy. I thought he was better than that. How could such an intelligent and cultured guy be so inconsiderate about others' feelings?
"Yolei?" Davis opened his eyes, feeling my tension in the air - and on my tightened grip on his shoulders. His brow creased in confusion, and he looked genuinely worried. "What's wrong?"
I didn't look at him, or even answer; my eyes and my mind were transfixed on Izzy's lip-lock only thirty feet away from us. Davis saw that my attention wasn't on him or his question, and followed my gaze over his shoulder to see what was the problem. "Oh, shit," he mumbled, trying to make his voice low enough for me not to hear.
Seeing Davis distracted and looking away, I took the chance to break away from his arms, in a fury of pain and confusion, and I ran, pushing past the stationary couples on the dance floor. I wiped at my eyes, hoping my contacts wouldn't flood and fall out; then, not only would my heart have been lost on that dance floor, but my eyesight as well.
"Yolei, wait!" I heard Davis yell after me, but I didn't stop or even look back at the boy who almost kissed me. I only kept running, making a beeline for the gym's Eastern exit, which lead out into one of the many winding hallways of Odaiba High. I kept running, running away from the confusion of my dance with Davis, and the pain of Izzy's lies. I just ran.
